Wieland looks for winter guide from stable pair

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Fred Wieland hopes to get a guide on two of his Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival prospects when Perovic and Swatow make their comebacks at Cairns on Thursday.

Bargain buy Perovic showed he was a worthy winter contender last campaign when the son of Pierro won the Cairns Amateur Cup over 1900 metres last August.

The five-year-old hasn’t raced since winning the 2000 metre Innisfail Cup in October.

The well-bred Perovic cost only $4,000 at an Inglis online sale and has won four of his nine starts since joining Wieland’s stables.

Perovic started with Melbourne trainer Danny O’Brien and only won a maiden at Moonee Valley in 2023 before he joined Murwillumbah trainer Matthew Dunn.

However, he managed only two wins for Dunn at Murwillumbah and Lismore before being sold and joined Wieland’s stables in Cairns.

Perovic is a half-brother to King’s Legacy who was a dual Group 1 champion. 

“He’s a Cup horse so hopefully he’ll make it to some of the Cup races likes the Townsville and Cairns Cups,” Wieland said.

“He hasn’t raced for a while and will need the run and he’ll probably find this race too short.

“Both of them are starting off their campaigns and have missed a bit of work because of the wet.”

The Townsville Cup and the Cleveland Bay Handicaps are the only major North Queensland features that has eluded Wieland in his 36-year training career.

Wieland won the Cairns Cup with Super Blitz in 2006.

Wieland also is hoping Swatow can confirm winter plans when he returns in the Benchmark 60 Handicap over 1250 metres.

Swatow is yet to win first-up from two attempts and hasn’t raced since winning the Daintree Guineas over 1500 metres in Cairns on August 23 last year. 

At his previous start, Swatow finished second to the Lyle Wright-trained Obligated in the Townsville Guineas at Cluden Park on August 9.

“He’s a smart horse who wasn’t cheap when he was bought by Tom Hedley,” Wieland said.

“He’s got a bit of weight and he’ll probably need the run, as well.

“I think he’ll get 1600 metres, but I’m not sure whether he’ll make a Townsville Cup horse this year or next year.”

Wieland has booked Wanderson D'Avila to partner Perovic while Sean Cormack retains the ride on Swatow.